Time-controlling mechanism for vulcanizing molds



y 1932- .P. DE MATTIA 3 TIME CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR VULCANIZING MOLDSFiled July 5. 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. BY @222: a; %mzaATTORNEY;-

July 1 9, 1932. P. DE MATTIA TIME CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR VULCANIZINGMOLDS Filed July 5, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR. @zz, JW

' ATTORNEY-3:

July 19, 1932. P. DE MATTIA 1,367,734

TIME CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR VULCANIZING MOLDS July 19, 1932. P. DEMATTIA TIME CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR VULCANIZING-MOLDS Filed July 5,1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYJT July 19, 1932. P. DE MATTIA TIME CONTROLLING MECHANISM FORVULCANIZ ING MOLDS Filed July 5, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 w WNW A TTORNEYJJuly 19, 1932. P. DE MATTIA TIME CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR VULGANIZINGMOLDS Filed July 5. 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVEN TOR. fie-am BY 7 %WATTORNEYJ,

Patented July 19, 1932 UNTE - SATES PETER DE IVIATTIA, OF PASSAIO, NEWJERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

NATIONAL RUBBER MACHINERY GO1VIPAN'Y,.OFAKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OFOHIO TIME-CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR VULOAN IZING MOLDS Application filedluly 5, 1928. Serial No. 290,337.

This invention relates to vulcanizing apparatus, and refers particularlyto time-con trolllng means for vulcanizing molds and presses used in theproduction'of inner tubes,

pneumatic tires, and similar articles.

An important object of the invention is to provide means forautomatically inflating and deflating the tubes or tires and for openingthe molds at the end of a definitely measured time cycle intended togive the proper 7 degree of vulcanization.

In my pending application Serial No. 271,-

695, filed April 21, 1928, I have disclosed a flned within the moldsections. In the operation of said press, the opening and the closing ofthe mold, as well as the inflation and deflation of the article beingvulcanized, are all performed manually, and hence it is necessary forthe attendant to watch the machines very closely to prevent eitherovercuring or undercuring of the stock. This is not oiny troublesome,but inherently ditficult, because in actual practice the attendant isusually required to look after a whole battery of vulcanizers all inoperation at the same time, 8X1

cept of course for the loading and unloading periods.

According to the present invention, practically all of the foregoingoperations are carried out and regulated automatically, there beingemployed an automatic timing device which not only controls theinflation and deflation of the tube or other article, but which alsoeflects alter vulcanization, the opening of the mold automatically andin proper se quence, thus requiring little or no attention. V

press equipped wlth time-controlling mechon the part of the operator. Inthe embodiment illustrated, the timing device is located belowthe fixedmold section and has operatmg parts which are connected with both thecylinder control valve and'the inflation and deflation valve. Therearetwo sets of actuatmg mechanisms,one for each valve, mounted together andoperated in properly timed relation from a single continuously drivenpow-V er shaft. This power shaft, through suit able gearing, operatestwo constantly rcciprocatingmembers, which under the control of suitabletrip mechanism are caused periodically to operate two other members orlevers connected to the two different valves. Ad ustments are providedfor, so that the vulcanizing period can be varied to suit therequirements of the particular article being vulcanized, and so that thetime elapsing between the deflation oi": the article and the pening ofthe mold can also be varied if and when desired. V

Prior to or simultaneously with the closing of the mold, air may beadmitted into the tube or other. article to be vulcanized ifnot inflatedbeforehand, whereby, to enable it by partial inflation to becomeproperly seated within thefmold cavity, but the full inflation, wherebyto impose the final vulcanizing pressure, is not efiect-ed until themold is entirely closed and locked, and then it is effectedautomatically by the setting of the timing device through the lockingaction of the press. In other words, the operator manually operates thecylinder valve to control the closing and locking-up of the mold, butthe remaining operations, i. e. the full pressure inflation and thesubsequent deflation of the article as well as the unlocking andreopening of the mold, are all carried out automatically by thetimecontrolling mechanism.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of theinvention will be fully appreciated from the following description inconnection with the'accompanying drawings, wherein-one form of theinvention has been shown by way of illustration, and wherein v Fi .1 isa side elevation of a vulcanizlng anismin accordance with theinvention,the

composite disc per se; and

parts being shown'with the press in open position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view, with parts broken away and parts in section,showing the press closed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the time-controlling mechanism,with the parts in positions correspondingto those of Fig. 1;

Fi 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but with the parts set to deflate thetube and otherwise corresponding to the conditions of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view approximately on the line55 of Fi 4; I

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view approximately on line 6-6of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an exploded view of the composite control disc of the timingmechanism;

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view through the Fig. 9 is a detailperspective View of one of the periodically operated members and ltsintermediate connection with the constantly reciprocating member. lVhilethe invention press, it is, of course, to be understood that it can beapplied equally well to a vulca'niz' ing'mold whose sections are pivoteddirectly together rather than carr y pivoted press platens and, so far"as'this invention iscon-' to the respective platens 10 and 18, as bycap screws 18, is a pair of opposed annular mold sections 19 and 20,themeeting faces of which are grooved to provide a continuous annular moldcavity 21, within which an inner tube or similar article is confinedduring vulcanization. In the illustrated embodiment see particularlyFig. 2), the mold cavity 21 is circular in cross section and is equallydivided between the two mold sections 19 and 20, the

parting lines of which, at the inner and outer peripheries, intersectthe mold cavity at diametrically opposite points 22 and 23,respectively, located on opposite sides of, and of course at equaldistances from, the central circumferential plane of the mold. In otherwords, said parting lines intersect the cavity 21 circumferentially insuch a manner as to define a truncated cone whose sides pass dihgonallythrough the center of the mold cavity and whose apex is located in thedirection of the opening movement or themovable section as it is carriedupwardly by the platen 13. Withthis arrangement. it will beobs'erved'that the lower mold section 19 presents a sidewall toengagethe green or has been disclosed in the drawings as applied to avulcanizmg' ing be nnvulcanized tube throughout the major portion of itsradial extent, and an overhanging inner wall to engage the tubethroughout its base ,or the major-portion of its axial extent. Themeeting faces of the two mold sections extend obliquely from the points22 and 23 through part of the mold wall, and

- thence are ofl -set in planes 26 and 27, located for vulcanizing innertubes, tormsithe subject of my pending application Serial No.263,623,'filed March 22, 1928, to which reference may be had For furtherdetails. 7

The mold sections 19 and 20 (rather than the press platens) areindividually heated by the circulation of steam or other heating fluidthrough heating chambers or jackets 28 and 29, whichsurround the moldcavity 21, such steam being supplied to the upper heating chamber28-through a pipe 30 having a swivel joint 31 atone end of thehinge pin14-, and to the lower heating chamber 29 through a similar pipe notshown. Suitable drain pipes are'also provided to draw off condensationand facilitate circulation of theheating medium, but since this forms nopart of the present invention, details thereof have'been omitted. Byproviding the mold sections directly with heating jackets, a better andmore uniform cure is obtained, and this especially when molds ofdifferent sizes are to be iriterchanged. v

In the particular press illustrated, the platens 10 and 13,respectively, comprise central web portions and l6, which are relativelyclose together when the press is closed, and offset annular table orflange portions 4? and 48 which are parallel to each other and. havetheir opposing faces l9 and 50 machined and spaced apart a distanceequal to the thickness of a pair of mold sections. 7

In order to move the platen 13 audits mold section 20 to open and closedpositions, and to lock and unlock the press, the follow- .ing means areprovided. A pressure cylinder 56' (Figs. '1 and'2) has its lower endpivoted, toithe standard 11, as at 57,-and'is provided with areciprocating piston 58 "cured to a piston rod 59 which extends throughthe upper cylinder head 60 and stuffwatr I team.or compressed air, isadmitted tothe cylinder 56 alternately at opposite sides of the piston58 through-flexible conduits 62 and 63 under the control of a four-Wayvalve 61. A' suitable pressure fluid, such 2 portion by the gravitatingaction of the latch member. Consequently, as the platen 13 64, which isoperable in one direction or the other in a manner to be hereinafterdescribed. The upper end of the piston rod 59 is connected, as at 66, tothe longer arm 67 of a bellcrank lever 68, mounted torock upon the hingepin 14, and whose shorter arm 69 is pivoted at 70 to one end of a link71. This link 71 extends inwardly I over the upper platen 13 and has itsother end pivoted at 7 2 to a lever arm 73 extending upwardly at or nearthe center of the press. Said lever arm 73 is fast to a rock shaft 74:,journaled at the top of the platen13,.and is characterized by anextension or lug 77 on its rearward side which is adapted to abutagainst a fixed stop portion 78 (Fig. 2) to limit the rocking movementof the lever with reference to the swinging mold section. Arpair ofeccentrics 7 9 is provided on the rock shaft 74 to support the spacedstraps 80 of a U-shaped latch or clamping member 81 which dependsthrough a substantially central opening 82 in the fixed platen 10, andwhich is provided at its lower end with a detachable wear block 83adapted to engage against the underside the latch straps are providedwith a rigidcross pin 86 disposed in the path of movement of a toeportion 87'0f the lever arm 73, and said pin 1s maintained against saidtoe comes to rest in its closing movement, the latch member 81. swingsby gravityunder the locking lug and is then drawn upward ly by theeccentrics? 9 with a powerful clamping pressure. In theopeningoperation, the lost motion of the lever arm 73 with reference tothe movable platen 13 permits the latch member 81 to be disengaged fromand swung clear of the lug 85 by the contact of the toe 5 portion 87with the pin 86, before the lever extension 77 comes into contact withthe fixed stop portion 7 8 of the platen, after which the upwardswinging of the platen is effected as if the'lever arm 73 were formedintegrally with the platen.

From the foregoing construction, it will .be apparent that the pressurecylinder 56 pressure in the embodiment illustrated is greatly multipliedby the employment of the above referred to, "and for any further deleverarm 73 and the eccentrics 79 through which the cylinder pressureistransmitted tothe clamping member .81. 7

It is desirable to lock the swinging platen and its mold section in openposition in 5 order to prevent its accidental or premature closing, andfor this purpose a dog 90 (Figs. 1 and 2) is pivotally suspended at'91on the long arm 67 of the bell-crank lever above-the pressureflcylinder56. Adjacent its lower end, the dog 90 is provided with a shoulderedprojection 92 which, when the press is opened, is adapted to slide pastand catch below'a shoulder 93 on the upper end of the cylinder 56,thedog being influenced by gravity to 6 effect this engagementautomatically. Thus when the press is opened, it will be held openindependently of the fluid pressure in the cylinder, and cannot beclosed again until the dog has been released. Its release is effected bymeans of a second hand bar 94 (see also Fig. 2), which is longitudinallyslidable below the fixed platen 10 and which has its rearward end bentdownwardly as at 95 whereby to engage-againsta projecting pin 96 carriedby the dog 90.- -The forward end of .the'bar 94; is pivoted at 97'toonearm of a bell-crank lever 98, the otherarm of which is accessible asa handle at the front of the press, and by it the bar can be pushedrear-' wardly, when desired, torelease theyprojection 92 from itsengagementwith the shoulder 93. 'Then the valve 6 1 c anbe manipulated tosupply pressure fluid to the lower side of the .cylinder 56 causingthepress to be closed.- A spring (not shown) may be attached at one endto the lower platen 10 and at its opposite end to the bar 94 to; pullconstantly on the bar to hold it in its forward inactive position.

The foregoing parts and their mode of opera-tionare or may be the sameasset forth inmy prior application Serial No. 271,695,

tails reference maybe had to that applicano tion. a 1 Compressed air, orother fluid under pressure, is supplied for inflating the tube withinthe mold cavity 21-from a pipe 100, theinflation and deflation of thetube being controlled by a three-way valve 101, which selectivelyprovides communication between the supply pipe 100-and a pipe 102,"andbetween said pipe 102 and an exhaust port-.103 12o which opens to theatmosphere. I Thepipe' 102 extends upwardly through the fixed platen 10and is provided at its extremitywith suitable coupling means 10 1 bywhich it may be connected to the inner-tube valve-stem which projectsthrough the wall of the mold section 10. o The coupling. means 104specifically illustrated in the drawings isone which has been developedto make a "quick and fluid tight connection withthe valve stem, and is139 more fully disclosed in my application Serial No. 302,710, filedAug. 29, 1928.

Coming now to the presentinvention: The pressure cylinder valve 64 and:the tube'inflation valve 101 are so coordinated as to insure theiroperation in a definite sequence, and this is accomplished by means ofthe automatic control means 105', which includes a substantiallyrectangular housing 106 see cured to suitable supports 107 and 108 onthe standardsll and :12. Referring particularly to Figs. 3 to 9, tworock shafts "109 and 110 are-supported. in axial alinement-in thehousing 106, each shaft having one of its ends extending outwardlythrough and be yond a wall of the housing, and at their protruding ends,the two shafts 109 and 110 are provided with-levers 111 and 112,respectively. r. V

The lever 111 (Fig. 2) is pivotally connected by a link 113 to the upperarm of a double-armed lever114 centrally'fsecured to the barrel of thecylinder control valve 64,

therocking movementof the'lever'b'eing intended to give the valve barrela quarter turn or a movement of substantially 90. Thelower arm of thelever 114"is pivotally connected by'a forwardly extending link 115 tothe longer .arm of: a bell-cranklever 116, centrally pivoted to thelower. platen at 117, andwhose shorter arm118 serves-as a handle bywhich ittmay; be manually operated. A tension spring 119, attached atits opposite ends to the link :115 and arm 114,-tends con stantlyto keepthe-parts in either of its extreme positions as shownin Figsal. and 2.These extreme positions are definedby a pair 'of1fixedabutments; 120 and:121 Within the hofusing'l06,,and which 'lie in'the path .of movement ofa member or arm 122 secured to the shaft 109 adjacent its inneriend. Thelever 112. is connected to the inflation valve arm 123 by a link 124,andis further characterized by a bifurcated upper end 125 (F ig. 6) inwhich is disposed a-sliding dog 126 having a shouldered portion 127adaptf ed, under certain conditions, to engage a rare shoulder 128 atthe bottom of the bifurcation to rock the lever and shaft, see Figs. 2and4. The dog'l26 is pivoted, as at 129,

to the longer arm: 130 ofa bell-crank. lever, which. in turn is pivotedat l'31 to the lower 3 side of the platen l0, and whose shorter arm .132is connected to an upstandingrod133 adapted to slide through an. openingin the V platen portion45. A tensionspring 134 acts upon the long arm130 of the bell-crank in suchmanneras to normally draw it toward theright, as viewed in F igsfl and 2, and in this condition, when the moldis open, the upperen'd' of the rod 133 extends a substantial distanceabove the upper surfaceof the platen portion (see Fig. 1). Slidablymounted" in the upper-platen 13, in axial alinementwith'the rod 133, isanother rod 135 which is'pivoted, as at 136, to a hookshaped extension137 of the before-mentioned locking lever73. According to thisarrangement of the parts, when the mold is closed, the inner ends of therods 133 and 135 will come into contact, and the final locking movementof the lever 73 will result in the depression of the:rod-133,'rockingbell-crank arm 130 and drawing the dog 126 forwardly or tothe left asshown in Fig. 2. By virtue of the engagement of the shouldered portion127 of the dog 126 with the shoulder 128 of the lever 112, the latterwill simultaneously be rocked forwardly and, through the link 124, itwill. move the arm 123 of the inflation valve from the position shown inFig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2, whereby to permit the passageofair or other inflating fluid to the tube confined within the moldcavity 21. In the finalforward movement. of the dog 126, it is graduallyraised by the the head of'a screw 126 carried on an extension 126 ofthelever 112 (Figs. 3 and 4) whereby to disengage the shouldered portion127 of the dog from'the shoulder 128 of the lever, leaving the latterfree to be moved rearwardly in the subsequent operation ofthetime-control mechanism.

WVithin the'housing 106, the shaft 110 has secured to it an arm 138which is-similar arms122 and 138. This composite disc'fas best shown inFigs. 7 and 8, comprises a central ratchet wheel 141 and a pair of tripdiscs or cams 142 and 143 disposed at opposite sides of the ratchet andsecured thereto by clamping screws 144. These screws are anchoredinuscrew-threaded sockets 145 in the disc 142 and extend through arcuateslots 146 and 147 in the ratchet wheel 141 and disc 143 respectively.'Ata suitable point in its periphery, the disc 142 is cut away toprovide a shoulder 148 which cooperates with a trip device tocause'movementof the arm 138 in one direction, and similarly theperiphery of the disc 143 is cut away to provide a shoulder 149 whichcooperates with a trip device to cause movementof the arm 122. Theratchet wheel'141is employed to impart an intermittent movement to thediscs 142 and 143,'but is limited in such movement by a pin 150projecting outwardly therefrom andwhich is adapted to engage'with fixedstops 151 and 152 on the inner. wall of the housing (Fig. 5). I Y

The intermittent movement-is impartedto the ratchet wheel by a pawl 153which is pivweighted extension 156 which maintains its detent 157 ispivoted at 158 in the housing I and is maintained in engagement with theratchet wheel by a spring 159 to prevent retrograde movement of theratchet wheel when the pawl 153 is making its return stroke. Normallythe composite disc is urged to turn in a clockwise I direction as viewedin Figs. 3 and 4 to a starting position where the pin will abut againstthe stop 151, this being accomplished either by means of a'spring or, asshown in the drawings, by a weight 160 connectedto a chain or cable 161which extends over a guide pulley 162 and has its other end secured to awinding drum or the like fast to the composite disc.

The rocking arm 155 above mentioned is fitted with a sliding crosshead163 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) having a pin 164 connected with a gear 165, thepin 164 being eccentric with reference to the axis of rotation of thegear 165, whereby to impart the rocking movement to the arm 155. Thegear 165 may be driven in any suitable manner, such asby a pinion 166(Fig. 5) which is rotatable as a unit with a worm gear 167 meshing witha screw or worm 168 driven by an electric motor 169. The arm155 is alsoprovided on the side opposite the gear 165 with a laterally extendingbar or member 170 disposed above the composite disc 140, and which isformed in one edge with a V-shaped notch or groove 171 for periodicengagement with the interponents next to be described.

Pivoted at 17 2 and 17 3, respectively, upon the arms 122 and 138 aretwo interponents 174 and 175 by means of which motion is periodicallycommunicated to the arms from the constantly reciprocating bar 170. Eachof the interponents (whichare identical) includes an upperarm-connectingportion 176 which overlies the path of travel of the bar170, and a lower trip portion 177 disposed below the path of saidmember. trip portions 177 are provided, intermediate their ends, withshouldered projections 178 adapted to ride on the peripheries of the respective discs 142 and 143 and so arranged that when the shoulders 148and 149 of the discs pass beyond these shouldered projec tions 178, theinterponents drop by gravity, swinging about their pivots, and carrywith them 'tappet members 179 secured to the upper portions 176. Duringthe vulcanizing operation these tappets 179 are maintained in a planeabove that of the reciprocating bar 170 by virtue of the engagement ofthe shouldered projections 178 with the peripheries of the discs 142 and143, but when they are allowed to fall, they come into the path ofmovement of said bar and their free ends (which are tapered as at 180 toseat in'the V-groove 171) are engaged byv the bar-170, which then rocksthe arms 122 and 138 to the The lower right; In the latter movement, theinterponentsare rocked slightly about their pivots 172 or 173 in adownward or counterclockwise direction, causing shoulders 183 on theinterponents to-bear against and deflect the free upper ends of lightfiat springs 181 secured, as at 182, to the: arms 122 and 138 (see Fig.On the subsequent return stroke of the reciprocating bar 170, thesprings 181' act to rock the interponents in the opposite direction, toa position limited by the seating of the flat ends of the shoulders 183against the springs, in which position the free ends of the tappets arelifted above the path of movement of the bar 170, so that the latter maycontinue-to moveto and fro without affecting the arms 122 and 138 untilthe trip portions 177 of the. interponents bring them: again intoaction. .In this connection, it is pointed out (see Figs. 4 and 7) thatthe shoulders 148 and 149 of the discs 142 and 143. arecircumferentially spaced from each other in such mannerthat theinterponent 17 5 of the inflation control arm 138 will be brought intoaction earlier than the interponent 174 of the cylinder control arm 122,this arrangement being made in order that the tube within the moldcavity 21 will be deflated prior to the automatic opening of the mold.The interval between the dropping of the twointerponents may be variedby loosening the screws 144 and turning the disc 143 with reference tothe disc 142.

As best shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 6, the cylinder control arm 122 isprovided at its lower end with an extension 184 carrying a transversepin185 which is adapted to engage the lower side of the weighted arm 156 offeed pawl 153 and disengage the same from the ratchet wheel 141. Theretrograde pawl or detent ,157 islikewise provided with a toe portion186 which bears against the weighted arm 156when the pawl 153 isdisengaged and simultaneously disengages the detent from A to itsoriginal position with the pin150 in engagement with the stop 151, thisposition beingalsoshown in Fig. 3.

In order to vary the vulcanizing period, the stop1151. is mounted uponan adjustable disc or dial plate 190 seatedin a circular opening 191 inthe cover 192 of the housing 106. This dial plate 190 is normally heldin adjusted position by clamping members 192 and wing nuts 193, and ifdesired may be providedwith suitable graduations or other indicia 194 toguide theoperator in fixing the vulcanizing period or the time whichwill elapse in the travel of the pin 150from-the stop 151 to the stop152;. Itwill'now be clear that the position of the stop 151 determinesthe starting positionfor the composite disc 140 in each vulcanizingcycle, so that by mov-' ing it either toward or away from the stop 152,the distance through which the composite disc will have to travelbeforethe interponents 17 4 are trippedmay be lengthened or shortened asdesirez:

If the tube has not been pre-inflated, it may be desirable to partiallyinflate the same prior to or simultaneously with the closing ofthe mold,and this is accomplished bymeans of an auxiliary inflation valve 195,which is preferably mounted in the casing of the valve 101 beforedescribed, seeFigs. 3-and 4. This auxiliary valve is also ofthethree-way type and is adapted to establish communication not" onlywith the port 103, but also with abypass tube 196 through whichair issupplied from the main supply pipe 100. The barrel of the valve 195 maybe rotated manually by a handle 197 and is provided with a radial arm198 which, when the valve isrotated to inflate the tube, is moved intothe dotted line position shown in Fig. 1, whereby it is disposed in thepath of movement of the forward end of the link 124. When the valve isthus manually operated, air is supplied from the by-pass 196 through thebarrel of the valve 195 and thence through the barrel of valve 101 tothe inflation tube 102. Subsequently when the mold is closed, the link124 will be moved forwardly, as previously explained, and in so doing,it will return the auxiliary valve 195 to its closed position,'as shownby full lines in Figs. 2 and 4, and simultaneously turn the valve 101 toopen position for admitting full air pressureto the tube whileundergoing vulcanization.

t is believed that the operation of the de vice will be entirely clearfrom the preceding description, but a brief recapitulation may behelpful: Commencing with the parts in the positions shown in Figs. 1 and3, wlth the mold open, the operator will first place an unvulcanizedtube in the cavity of the lower moldsection 19, connection of the valvestem with the air supply coupling 104 being simultaneously andautomatically made, as

described in thelater application Serial No;

302,710 above referred .to. He may, if desired, partially or furtherinflate the tube by swinging the valve handle 197 downwardly in themanner last described, the attendant ordinarily operating the valve 197.to turn on the air supply" before inserting the tube in the mold. Withone hand, he will next push rearwardly on the bar 94-to free the dog90,. and with his otherhand, he will depress the handle 118 of thebell-crank lever 116 to turn the valve64 to apositionin which itsupplies air or otherpressurefluidto the lower end ofthe cylinder 56. Asthis is' done, the lever 111 of the timing device will be swungforwardlyto the position shown in Fig. 2 by virtue of its connection with thevalve 64 through link 113 and lever 114, and such movement of the lever111 will corre: spondingly movethe arm 122 to its forwardposition withinthe case or housing 106. Upon the-admission of pressure fluid to thecylinder, the upper mold section 20 is swung down to its closed positionand locked therein through the connections 7 previouslydescribed, but inthe finallocking movement of the-parts, the rod 133 will be shoveddownwardly by the rod 135 and rock the bell-crank lever 130 about itspivot 131, causing the dog 126 to draw the lever 112 to its forwardposition and, through its connections with the 'will act at oncegtoimpart a stepby step advancing movement to the composite disc 140 in acounterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrows in Figs. 3 and 4.;Upon the closing of the mold, the vulcanization of the tube of courseimmediately starts, steam being circulated continuously through theheating Clll-IIlbGIS28 and 29 in the usual manner. As the advancingmovement of the composite disc continues, the shoulder .148 of the cam142 reaches a position in which it passes out of contact with theshoulder 178 of the interponent 175 carriedby the inflation anddeflation control arm 138, whereupon said interponent falls by gravityand positions its tappet 179 in the path of movement of thereciprocating bar170, which, as it moves to the right, willcorrespondingly'rock the arm 138 and lover 112, carrying along the link124 V likewise cause it. to move the arm-122 and lever 111. to theright, suchmovement of the lever 111, due to its connection with thevalve 64, turning itto admit pressure fluid to the upper end of. thecylinder 56 for the unlocking and opening of the mold (see Fig. 1). Fromthe foregoing, it will be clear that the vulcanizing period isautomatically measured and ended without dependence upon the humanelement. I

The invention is extremely simple in construction and thoroughlydependablein 0p-. eration. Obviously, various modifications may beresorted to, and the right is herein reserved to make such changes asfall within the scope of the appended claims without departing from thespirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. Vulcanizing apparatus comprising a lower fixed mold section and anupper swinging mold section, power mechanism for raising and loweringthe swinging mold section to open and close the mold, separate clampingmeans carried by the swinging mold section and operated by the powermechanism for automatically locking and unlocking the sections in theclosing and opening of the mold, means for manually controlling theclosing of the mold, time-controlling means for automaticallycontrolling the opening of the mold. at the end of a definitevulcanizing period, and means associated with said clamping means forinitiating the operation of said time-controlling means as the mold isclosed.

2. A vulcanizing mold comprising a pair of opposed mold sections movabletoward an d from each other to open and close the mold, means forlocking the mold sections in closed relation, said means including alever rockably supported on one of the mold sections, a valve forcontrolling inflation and deflation of an article confined between themold sections, a bell-crank lever pivoted to one of the mold sectionsand having intermittent connection with the inflation and deflationvalve, and means for connecting the bellcrank lever with the lockinglever whereby to inflate the article as the mold is locked.

3. A vulcanizing mold comprising a fixed mold section and a swingingmold section movable toward and from the fixed section to open and closethe mold, means for look ing the mold sections in closed relation, saidmeans including a lever pivoted on the swinging section, a valve forcontrolling inflation and deflation of an article confined between themold sections, means for operating the valve to inflate the article assaid lever is moved to its locking position, and means for Iautomatically operating the valve to deflate the article prior to theopening of the mold at the end of a predetermined time cycle.

4. In combination with a vulcanizing mold having a pair of opposed moldsections movable toward and from each other to open and close the mold,means for locking the mold sections in closed relation, a valve tocontrol inflation and deflation of an article confine-d between the moldsections, time-controlled mechanism comprising a periodically operablemember connected to the valve, a constantly operable member, and tripmechanism whereby to move the periodically operablemember in onedirection by the constantly operable member to deflate the article, andconnecting means between the locking mechanism and said periodicallyoperable member whereby to actuate the valve to inflate the article asthe mold is locked.

5. A vulcanizing mold comprising a pair of opposed mold sections movabletoward and from each other to open and close the mold, means forinflating an. article confined between the mold sections, means formanually controlling said inflating means to partially inflate thearticle prior to or simultaneously with the closing of the mold, andautomatic means for subsequently rendering the manual means inactive.and for controlling the inflating means to effect the full pressureinflation of the confined article after the closing of the mold. i

6. A vulcanizing mold comprising a pair of opposed mold sections movabletoward and from each other to open and close the mold, means forinflating an article confined between the mold sections including twoseparate controlling valves, manual means for opening one of saidvalves, and automatic means for closing said valve and for opening andclosing the other valve.

In testimony whereofil have aflixed my signature hereto.

PETER DE MATTIA.

